Your Objectives

• Help your mentees discover concepts of molecular biology -- don't try to teach them anything. if through your gentle, subtle suggestions, your mentees believe they have gained deep understanding wholly on their own, you have been wildly successful.
   
• Through this, help yourself discover how to lead others effectively to understanding. Learn to see problems through the eyes of others.

Reflection and Feedback

You will be asked to reflect on your experience within a day of each encounter. Suggestions will be posted to guide your musings. One major motivation for this exercise is that we on the other side want to know what works and what doesn't. We hope you're going to tell us.

What if…

• What if my mentee is a real dunce?      
  Rejoice! You have the opportunity to make a big difference. Anyone can learn anything. If you persevere, you might find the magic button that helps even your mentee see the light. (Take good notes on what you try and what works!)

• What if my mentee is a genius?
  Rejoice! You're going to have a very interesting ride, and both of you will learn something. Don't worry that you'll have nothing to say. Even geniuses aren't born knowing how to speak an unfamiliar language. They'll need help with BioBIKE.

• What if my mentee will not communicate?
  Do not rejoice. The class consists of students who have chosen to participate in a high octane experience, so the apathy that comes with some high school classes will probably be absent in this one. However, if your mentee is timid, then to get the fires burning, you may need to move the action along by posing questions that will yield interesting answers. Be prepared for this.

• What if I don't understand the tours and BioBIKE?
  Ha ha! Surely you make with the joke. You will have a few weeks head start, and even if you are not thoroughly comfortable with BioBIKE by that time, imagine how much less comfortable your mentee will be. However, it is expected that you will encounter problems now and again.